An exhibition curated by Ell Pennick and Gemma Rolls-Bentley
05-14 July 2024 at 15 Bateman Street, London, W1D 3AQ
Private View 04 July 18:00-21:00
An0maly, Pole Artist, 2023, Ajamu X
KKWEER Arts is excited to present ‘Ultraviolet’, a powerful and thought-provoking group exhibition which delves into the intricate world of coded language, symbols, and gestures nestled within queer communities.
The exhibition features some of the biggest names in queer art, including new work by the iconic Maggi Hambling and a selection of new and existing works by Ajamu X, Lulu Bennett, Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, Olivia Sterling, Sarah Jane Moon, Shadi Al-Atallah, Elsa Rouy, Zach Toppin, Sadie Lee, Dale Lewis, Ebun Sodipo, Sola Olulode, Eva Dixon, Whiskey Chow, Sarah-Joy Ford, SHARP and Kevin Kane.
The curators of this show, Gemma Rolls-Bentley, and Ell Pennick are powerhouses in the artworld. Gemma Rolls-Bentley has been at the forefront of contemporary art for 15 years, working passionately to champion diversity in the field and amplify the work of queer artists. Ell Pennick, director and founder of Guts Gallery is one of the youngest gallerists in the industry. Guts Gallery champions the underrepresented voices of the art world.
Through a range of mediums, the featured work explores a rich history of coded expressions serving as potent tools of resistance, connection, and self-affirmation. From the subtle subversions of everyday objects to the bold defiance of societal norms, the evolving language of queer coding continues to play an important role. This exhibition invites you to unravel its mysteries and celebrate the diverse expressions of queerness that occur in plain sight and enrich our world.
The Curators
Gemma Rolls-Bentley has been at the forefront of contemporary art for over 15 years, working passionately to champion diversity in the field. Curating exhibitions and building art collections internationally, her curatorial practice amplifies the work of female and queer artists and provides a platform for art that explores LGBTQIA+ identity. Gemma is a creative consultant and advisor for brands, organisations and cultural projects and she teaches at institutions including the Royal College of Art, Glasgow School of Art and Goldsmiths. She co-chairs the board of trustees for the Charity Queercircle and sits on the Courtauld Association Committee. She spent a decade working at the intersection of art and technology, holding positions of Chief Curator at Avant Arte and Curatorial Director at Artsy. In 2011 Gemma launched the arts arm of the East London Fawcett Group and ran their 2012-2013 Art Audit campaign. Recent curatorial projects include Tschabalala Self’s first public art project at Coal Drops Yard in London, the Brighton Beacon Collection, the largest permanent display of queer art in the UK, and the Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festival. In 2023 she curated the group exhibition ‘Dreaming of Home’ at Leslie Lohman Museum of Art in NYC and she is the host of the museum’s new podcast series. Her debut book ‘Queer Art’ will be published in May 2024 by Francis Lincoln.
Ell Pennick, Director and Founder of Guts Gallery is one of the youngest gallerists navigating the art world today. As a working-class, queer Northerner with no art background, Pennick’s footing in the art world started with their frustrations at the lack of meaningful opportunities for people like them. After being unable to accept a place at a renowned institution due to their financial status, Pennick began to question the wider, social austerity within the arts. They launched Guts to create a fair art-business model which has & ‘far more importance to them than a piece of paper with a Masters grade on it’ and to champion emerging artists. They made it their mission to help artists demand the respect - and ownership - they deserve.